For the second year in a row, Moldova has joined the global campaign “Light it up blue” that is aimed at increasing awareness of autism and at making common cause with families with autistic children. On World Autism Awareness Day marked on April 2, a series of events were held in Chisinau to inform the public about the special needs of people with autism.

Associations of parents, the authorities and international organizations joined efforts for a common cause – to raise awareness of autism as a growing public health crisis, including in Moldova.

Head of the association of parents of autistic children “SOS-Autism” Aliona Dumitras said that many steps were taken to improve things related to autism. Specialists are annually trained for working with these children. Last January, there was introduced the test for detecting autism.

First Lady Margareta Timofti, who visited the institution, said that autism is not a new phenomenon. The autistic children have the same rights as the children without health problems and the parents have the right to seek help from the state. “We can and must do our utmost to offer the autistic children the chance to love, think, learn and dream,” said Margareta Timofti, who is the president of honor of “SOS Autism”.

Blue lampions will be released into the sky near the Triumphal Arch in central Chisinau at 8pm, within the global campaign “Light it up blue”.

In December 2007, the United Nations declared April 2 as World Autism Awareness Day to highlight the need to help improve the lives of children and adults who suffer from the disorder so they can lead full and meaningful lives.